Hearth New Hope: Promising new "vegetarian" "modern rustic fare"

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Hearth New Hope: Promising new "vegetarian" "modern rustic fare"

Open just a few months in a location formerly occupied by both Martine's and Marcella's at 7 East Ferry St. on the river in downtown New Hope, Hearth New Hope is not exactly a vegetarian restaurant (although many of its menu items are vegetarian and quite a few are gluten-free, it is really a pescatarian place). We've visited twice and found the food to be mostly quite good, with a few misses. Anyone who has been to either of the former occupants at this location knows that the word "rustic" clearly applies to this lovely, Bucks County-style stone structure. Dining is on two levels, with a generous amount of outdoor seating. There is also seating at the "bar", which, because Hearth is BYO, is not truly a bar (although a menu of non-alcoholic drinks is available).

As starters, we've had the white bean soup (which I found excessively salted), the triad, which featured an excellent hummus and the jicama salad, which was heaping with matchstick-cut pieces of crunchy jicama.

On my two visits, I've had both the summer pasta, which I found delightful, despite it being gluten-free: the cashew cream did not make me miss a traditional cream sauce and the pasta was done perfectly, tossed with a generous mixture of fresh vegetables. The real treat, however, was the picnic plate: baked beans, corn, and an assortment of other seasonal vegetable treats was perfect on a hot summer evening.

We found the service attentive and helpful, although the kitchen can be a bit slow when busy.

Hearth New Hope is a promising alternative to the more upscale Sprig and Vine, located a few blocks away. If your diet includes fish, you'll find it at Hearth, whereas Sprig and Vine, as excellent as it is, is strictly vegan.

Parking can be a b#%*h in downtown New Hope, so you may want to leave your car in the public parking lot at Union Square and walk the few blocks to Hearth. Outdoor seating is delightful when the weather is nice and, again, Hearth is BYO.